How to incorporate music into the classroom

ÃÛÌÒapp Languages
Children singing in a line holding song sheets, with a teacher singing facing them

Learning English with music can enhance learning and create a more engaging and dynamic classroom environment. In a previous post, we discussed if music can help you learn a language; this post looks at how music can be incorporated into the classroom.

Using music in your classroom can help improve student motivation, focus, and retention of information. Here are some ways you can use music to enhance your classroom teaching:

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Ways to incorporate music into your classroom
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Background music

Playing soft, easy to listen to background music in class can help create a calm and comfortable atmosphere for students. Music with English lyrics playing in the background can help students with passive memorization of English. Research suggests[1] that studying with music improves focus, also with the bonus of relieving stress and anxiety.

This can also help students discover new music. If they hear one they enjoy, they might listen to the songs outside of class and during their own study time.

To help and encourage them with this, you can also build a regular playlist that students can access or refer to. You can also ask students if they have any favorite songs with English words to add to the playlist, to get them more involved.

Musical breaks

Often it's good to take breaks or short pauses during the school day to help students recharge and refocus their attention. These kinds of breaks are typically 10-15 minutes long and can be utilized in different ways, such as physical activities, games or mindfulness exercises; it can also just be a time to relax and reset.

Adding English songs to these breaks can make them even more effective. Upbeat, high-energy music can get students moving and dancing and calming music can be used for relaxation and mindfulness exercises. Music can also be used to accompany physical activity and help children learn new words, skills or practice routines.

Create your own song

Using music to help students memorize words and phrases can be a fun and effective strategy. For example, you can create a song or rap from scratch or to an existing song or familiar beat, including important words or concepts that you're currently teaching. This can help students remember the information better and make learning more enjoyable.

For younger learners, add actions to your song to make it more interactive and even more memorable.

If you are short on time, use existing relevant songs to supplement your lesson. If it's a widely known song in current popular culture, students are more likely to connect or engage with it due to its familiarity and appeal.

Singing and performance

Music can inspire creativity and help students think outside the box. You can get students to create their own song, rap or performance in English to present to the rest of the class.

If you have less time, get students to sing along to songs, perform karaoke style, or create their own song lyrics to a familiar/existing tune. This can help with their English vocabulary, pronunciation and speaking practice. It can also help students practice public speaking, improvisation, and other performance skills.

Classroom management

Music can also be used as a tool for classroom management to help with transitions of different classes throughout the day. Use a song to signal the start or end of class. You can also use it to signal changes throughout the day.

Choose songs that reflect the time of day or an event. For example, if it is lunchtime, play a song related to food, such as .

Students will start making associations with the words of the song and start picking up words and phrases, similar to the previous point of background music.

Integrating music into your classroom can be a great and fun way to engage students and enhance their language learning. Encouraging creativity, focus, learning, and growth. Utilizing music throughout the day adds a dynamic element that benefits the students in many ways.
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References

[1]Antony, M. & Priya V, Vishnu & Gayathri R, Gayathri R et al (2018). Effect of music on academic performance of college students. Drug Invention Today. 10. 2093-2096.

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    The holiday season is a magical time and the perfect moment to spark a teacher's creativity. I've always believed that learning a language isn't just about studying—it's about living it. As a learner, I loved the resources my teachers and institutions provided, but what truly captivated me was the opportunity to engage with the world using the language skills I had acquired.

    As a teacher, I strive to give my students that same experience. I didn't expect the holiday season to become the perfect setting to turn my teaching philosophy into reality. This blog post shares a personal story of how I used a creative activity to keep my students learning and practicing English during the holidays with the support of the Global Scale of English (GSE).

    The challenge I faced: Mixed levels and ages

    The activity I designed, Christmas Carols, presented two main challenges:

    1. Diverse proficiency levels: My group included students ranging from beginners to advanced learners, all participating in the same activity. I wanted to have them all working together; that's what language means to me.Ìý
    2. Varied age groups: The students also spanned different age ranges, which required an effective approach to engage everyone. It was a Christmas gathering meeting with all the institution's students.

    Basic students worked on identifying vocabulary that is similar to their native language and then used it in a short text. Intermediate students solved riddles to guess words that could be included in the lyrics. Advanced students completed questionnaires to build sentences and find synonyms to refine the text. The carol was divided into three sections: the first paragraph was for basic students, the second for intermediate students and the third for advanced students. I also included French students in the activity, which was designed for both languages.

    After the students completed their tasks in separate groups, I mixed them so they could explain the vocabulary they had learned to one another. To facilitate communication without relying on Spanish, I used pictures and Christmas props to help them express themselves visually.

    Finally, we all came together and sang the carol as one group.

    Turning challenges into opportunities with the GSE

    For me, a successful language activity needs three essential components: clear instructions, engaging resources and opportunities for interaction. With these principles in mind, I crafted an inclusive and dynamic activity, using the GSE to guide my planning.

    Step 1: Defining the goal

    I realized that most of my students didn't know specific Christmas-related vocabulary or any traditional English carols. This activity was also an opportunity to learn by myself and then share with them. This gap was my opportunity to introduce them to the holiday spirit in English.

    Step 2: Planning with the GSE

    I identified suitable goals for each proficiency level using the GSE Learning Objectives. These objectives helped me design tasks that targeted key skills—listening, speaking, reading and writing—while considering the ages and abilities of my students.

    Step 3: Preparing a scavenger hunt

    To make the activity interactive and fun, I organized a scavenger hunt. Students had to solve riddles and follow clues to find words essential for completing a Christmas song. The GSE objectives ensured that the tasks were appropriately challenging for each level.

    Step 4: Pairing students effectively

    Knowing my students well, I paired them strategically based on their proficiency and age. This pairing encouraged collaboration and allowed them to support each other throughout the activity.

    Making language visible and memorable

    One of my priorities was to make the language come alive. I brought visual aids like cards, games, and even a Christmas tree and a nativity scene—elements that most students recognized but had never explored in English. These visuals became valuable tools for teaching vocabulary in a tangible, engaging way.

    To add another layer of interaction, I used my guitar to sing along with the students. By the end of the activity, not only were we singing, but they also understood the meaning behind every word. Watching them take pride in their learning was incredibly rewarding and I knew this vocabulary wouldn't stop there; they would take it home and make it real for them, for the season, for their life.

    Reflections and an invitation

    This experience reminded me of the power of teaching through real-life experiences. Holidays provide a unique opportunity to teach without teaching and to help students study while living the language. Tools like the GSE make it easier for us as educators to plan meaningful and impactful activities.

    My invitation to fellow teachers is twofold:

    1. Explore the GSE resources to enrich your teaching strategies.
    2. Share your ideas and activities with the teaching community. Together, we can create opportunities for our students to use the language in real and virtual contexts that inspire learning and cooperation.

    Let's make 2025 the year we bring language to life in every classroom.